sets 1 of 2

present tense third-person singular of set
1
as in spawns
to cover and warm eggs as the young inside develop the hen set for days

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
3
4
as in sits
chiefly dialect to rest on the buttocks or haunches come over and set for a spell

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

5
as in aims
to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal determined to see the West, she set her car towards the sun and drove off

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

6
7
8
9
10

sets

2 of 2

noun

plural of set
1
as in factions
a group of people acting together within a larger group the younger set is less likely to volunteer for the church's annual rummage sale

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
3
4
5
as in decors
the array of painted backgrounds and furnishings used to establish the setting in a stage production built sets for the play

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sets
Verb
Officials accused her in the letter of violating the university’s time, place and manner policy, which sets rules on free speech activities on campus. Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026 At issue was whether federal law sets a single Election Day that requires ballots to be both cast by voters and received by state officials. Mark Sherman, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2026 Ultimately, what sets humans apart the most may be our ability to cope with birth in creative ways. Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 29 June 2026 The bill sets the price; FERC reopens the rules that set the order of the line. Robert J. Szczerba, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026 The latter can be operated from your phone—a fun little trick once the sun sets and the conversation gets going. Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 29 June 2026 April 20 – May 20 Taurus, your presence sets the tone today. Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 28 June 2026 December 22 – January 19 Gentle reflection sets a calmer pace right now. Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 27 June 2026 The benchmark sets an annual target for increases in healthcare spending in an attempt to hold providers and insurers accountable to maintain affordability for residents. Katy Golvala, Hartford Courant, 27 June 2026
Noun
New voices, new philosophies, new ways of teaching and new sets of data to parse through. Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 27 June 2026 Charli has a short arena tour planned to celebrate her upcoming release as well as a number of headlining sets at music festivals, including Lollapalooza and Outside Lands. Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 26 June 2026 More than a dozen notable waterfalls are within an hour’s drive of the town, including Hedge Creek Falls, Burney Falls, Faery Falls and three sets of falls on the McCloud River — but the crown jewel, locals say, is Mossbrae. Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026 Matching sets are one of the easiest ways to look put-together with minimal effort, and this tank-and-shorts combo is no exception. Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 26 June 2026 Minimalist sandals like these add a dainty yet sophisticated touch to casual summer outfits, from maxi dresses to loungewear sets. Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026 These matching sets can be worn to the beach or to dinner, and prices start at just $14 apiece. Genevieve Cepeda, InStyle, 26 June 2026 Each one fills a slightly different lane, from drugstore convenience to reusable luxury sets. Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 26 June 2026 Nail Reformation sits at the more fashion-forward end of the natural category, with sets running $16 to $20. Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 26 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sets
Verb
  • The average female lionfish spawns around 27,000 eggs every three days, so unsurprisingly, the species quickly spread throughout the Caribbean, up the East Coast and east to the Bahamas.
    Rachel Nuwer, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 June 2026
  • The Lifeform spawns from a black, bacterial mold that infests the yellow wallpaper and moist carpets.
    Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
Verb
  • But the spec sheet is the price of entry, not the reason anyone chooses you.
    Ali Aydan, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
  • So Josie chooses Klara, despite the latter being an older model.
    Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 23 June 2026
Verb
  • The deal, made for cash and shares of Rocket Lab stock, values Iridium at about $8 billion.
    Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 29 June 2026
  • In contrast, the Dutch have pursued a different vision of the good life—one that values security, balance, and community over material wealth.
    Steven Delco, Hartford Courant, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • The Berliners said the home sits at a level that preserves the view while keeping passing foot traffic out of sight.
    David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 29 June 2026
  • One of the more interesting additions is Bambu’s new filament-track switch system, which sits between the AMS and the printer’s dual-nozzle filament paths.
    Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 28 June 2026
Verb
  • That's significant because the nonprofit aims to reduce the stigma of mental health disorders, especially among Asian American families.
    Sharon Chin, CBS News, 25 June 2026
  • As Europe seeks to expand its position in advanced semiconductor technologies, the new partnership aims to create a production environment capable of supporting both startups and established companies working on photonic chip innovations.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 24 June 2026
Verb
  • Someone decides what counts as cultivation and what counts as nuisance, what gets watered and what gets pulled, what belongs in the planned bed and what must be removed before visitors arrive.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 June 2026
  • Complaints against Israeli soldiers in the occupied West Bank go to the Israeli military's own prosecution service — the Military Advocate General — which decides whether to open an investigation, and whether any soldier should be charged.
    Ruth Sherlock, NPR, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • The region secures billions in annual funding, outpacing many European rivals, and looks set for continued growth.
    Gaurav Sharma, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • The Blink Outdoor 4 XR Bundle secures your perimeter with extended 400-foot signal routing and a two-year battery lifespan powered by included Energizer lithium cells.
    Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • This setup cuts through major wartime risks by ensuring that Polish capital can move freely across the border, immune to any emergency payment freezes Kyiv might impose.
    Lidia Kurasinska, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026
  • As beer freezes, the water inside freezes first.
    Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 25 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sets.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sets. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on sets

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster